After Violent Weekend, Jersey City Hosts Night Out Against Crime

JERSEY CITY, NJ — National Night Out is sweeping through cities and towns across the nation next week, but the anti-crime movement has exceptional timing in Jersey City as the city continues to process last weekend's violent events.

On Saturday morning, 26-year-old Raquan Bass was shot on Grant Avenue. He was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, where he died. Just days later on Tuesday morning, during a vigil for Bass, 30-year-old Felicia Stewart was shot in the back and killed, in the same location. In another deadly incident that weekend, a 55-year-old Jersey City man identified as Steven Bardsley, was charged with murder in connection with a Saturday night stabbing on Cambridge Avenue.

Jersey City has seen 16 homicides this year alone — the homicides of the seven months of this year have already matching the number of homicides for the whole of 2020.

This year's National Night Out will take place on Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is open to parks across the city — the city-circulated flyer lists Audubon Park, Pershing Field, Arlington Park and Hamilton Park. This year marks the 37th year of the night out. Barbecues, music and events will dominate the night.

National Night Out started in August 1984. Today, there are 194 cities that participate in New Jersey.